Running-gear for vehicles.



(No Model.)

RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.-

(Appliation meg July 8, .1999.

3 SheetsSheet No. 636,999. Patented Nov. I4, I899.

R. W. JAMIESON. RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

4 (Application filed July 8, 1899.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

LEI-J WITNESSES.-

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N0. 636,999. Patented Nov. l4, I899. R. w. JAMIESON. I

RUNNING GEAR FOB VEHICLES. (Applicltion filed .m' s, 1899.)

(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES.

-PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT w. JAMIESON, OF RocHEsTER, NEW YORK.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

Si'ECIFIGATION forming part of Letters was No. 636,999, dated November14, 1595.

Application filed July 8,1899. Serial No. 723,190. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT. WKJAMIESON, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe, State of New York, have invented certain new and ployedparticularly upon that class of vehicles known as automobiles and toprovide a construction whereby'the forward or steering wheels may beadjusted simultaneously and rotated upon their vertical axis at anydesired angle to the frame, and has for its further object to provide ameans whereby when either steering-wheel is elevated above the other, asin mounting an obstacle in the road, the axle to which the said wheelsare connected may be permitted to tilt without unevenly raising the bodyof the vehicle.

To these and other ends my invention con-e fication.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the running-gear of avehicle constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a front endelevation; Fig. 3, an enlarged top plan view of the forward portion ofthe frame and steering-wheels; Fig. 4, a plan view of one end of theWheel-axle; Fig. 5,'a side elevation of the same; Fig. 6, a sectionalView on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a plan view of a modification;Fig. 8, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 9, a sectional view taken on theline 9 9 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 10 a sectional view of a modification. 2;

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts.

In constructing a vehicle-frame in accordance with myinvention I employthe axles 1 and 2, supported upon their opposite extremities in thefront and rear sets of wheels (indicated by 3 and 4, respectively) andunited by the reach composed of the tubular rods 5,

rigidly secured at 6 6 to the rear axle,' and at their forward endsunited by brackets 7 and 8,-secured rigidly to said rods by brazing orotherwise. The bracket 7 connects the rods in rear of theirextreme'ends, and the bracket 8 embraces said ends where they arebrought together, thus forming a triangular reach or frame of greatstrength.

The forward axle 1 is constructed in the form of a truss-frame to insurerigidity and lightness, consisting of the cross-bar 9, arrangedcentrally upon the axle 1 and extending transversely thereof, and thetie-rods 10,

extending from the extremities of the bar to the lugs ll near the outerends of said axle. Formed upon the under sides of the couplings orbrackets 7 and 8 are downwardly-extending ,lugs or extensions 12, inwhich the opposite ends of the bar 9 are j ournaled in any suitablemanner.

The body of the vehicle may be mounted upon and secured to the frame inany suitable manner, with the usual or any preferred construction ofsprings interposed between the body and frame adapted to reduce thejolting and vibration between the parts. As far as the mounting of theforward axle is concerned, it is not essential that a triangularreach-frame be employed, as any construction of frame which would permitthe separation of the pivot-points of the axle sufficiently to preventits twisting relative to the frame might be employed; but I prefer thedescribed construction, as it simplifies and strengthens the parts. Theutility of providing for a vertical movement between the vehicle-bodyand the forward axle is at once apparent, as the vehicle in travelingover a rough or uneven road-bedis not materially affected by theelevation of either wheel in surmounting some obstruction or by droppinginto a rut or other depression in the road.

The steering or directing of the vehicle is accomplished by means of theforward wheels 3 3, carried upon stud-axles arranged upon theextremities of the front axle 1 and by a construction to be presentlydescribed secured thereto in such a manner that as the wheels are movedat an angle relative to the axle their pivot-points will lie in thecenters of the wheelsthat is, the latter will be turned upon aperpendicular erected at or near the point of contact between the wheeland the ground.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I provide upon the innerends of each of the stud-axles 14: a segmental channel-box 15, havingthe flanges 16 upon its outer face and the slot 17 between them. Thischannel-box is curved upon an are having its center lying in the centerof the wheel-hub of the wheel, heretofore described, and upon thestud-axles are spindles or bearings 18, which maybe of any desiredconstruction adapted to fit within the hub of the wheel, permitting thefree rotary movement of the latter, ball-bearings being employed, ifdesired. Arranged upon each end of the axle 1 is a segmental head 20,upon which the channel-box is adapted to fit and slide. As beforedescribed, the channel-box is curved, and the turning of the wheel intoan angular position with relation to the axle 1 is accomplished byadjusting the channel-box 15 of the stud-axle on the said head 20, whichwill cause the wheel to turn or pivot on a centernear its vertical axis.If it is desired to have the wheels operate in the same manner as thesteering-wheels of bicycles, in which the center of movement of thewheel is inclined slightly from the perpendicular, it is only necessaryto tilt the segmental bearing members at a slight angle to thehorizontal, as shown in Fig. 10. In order that the parts may bereadilyoperated into any desired position, I employ roller-bearingsbetween the engaging surfaces, the channel-box 15 being formed with aconsiderable breadth, as shown, in order to be-firmly supported on theaxle l, and upon the opposite sides of the head 20 I provide rollers 21,supported upon suitable bearings in lugs or ears 22 and adapted to bearupon the inner sides of the box 15 and flanges 16. Arranged upon theupper side of the head are rollers 23, supported upon studs or pins 24:,journaled in recesses or apertures 25, said rollers bearing against theupper side of the channel-box 15, as shown particularly in Fig. 6. Thearrangement, as above described, greatly reduces the friction betweenthe parts, and to compensate for any wear that may occur, as well as toprovide a means of adjustment, I employ a plate 26, lying in the bottomof channel-box and adjusted by a series of set-screws 27, threaded intothe lower side of the box, by which the desired adjustment maybeobtained and any wear compensated for. The stud-axles thus constructedare connected for simultaneous operation by short arms 28, located uponthe channel-box 15 and provided with a foot 29, which is secured bybolts to the flanges 16, extending to the rear of stud'axles, and areconnected by rods 31, pivoted at 32 to the ends of said arms 28 and at33 to a lever 34, rigidly connected to and operated by the steering-post35, journaled on a bearing 36 in the axle 1, which extends upward and isaccessible from the vehicle-body. A movement of the post in eitherdirection is communieated to the stud-axles through the arms 28 by meansof the lever 34 and connectingrods 31, adjusting the wheels to thedesired position.

I have shown a modified form of mydevice in Figs. '7 to 9, in which thearrangement of the stud-axles and bearings is reversed. In thisconstruction the channel-box 15 is formed upon each end of the axle 1and the adjusting-lever 23 is located upon the stud-axle between thehead 20 and the spindle or hearing 18. The axle 1 is provided upon eachextremity with the channel-box 15, in which the head 20 upon thestud-axle operates. Said head is provided with the rollers '21 uponopposite sides thereof, and small rollers 23, journaled between lugs 40,arranged upon the upper side of the channel-box 15 and operatin gthrough apertures 41, bear against the upper side of the head 20, asshown particularly in Fig. 9.

The operation of the device will now be understood. When the operatordesires to steer the vehicle in any desired direction, he revolves thesteering-post 35 and by means of the lever 34 and connecting-rods 31moves the levers 28, which, being attached rigidly to the boxes on theshort axles, will shift the latteron the heads 20, and owingto thecurved construction of the heads and boxes the wheels will be rotated inapproximately a vertical plane.

By arranging the steering device with the pivot-point upon which thewheels are turned coincident with their vertical axes the steering maybe accomplished easily and is not aifected by an increase in the loadingof the vehicle. The constant jerking movement of the steering mechanismoccasioned by either of the wheels encountering slight obstacles intheir paths is also eliminated, and as a further advantage of thisconstruction the wear upon the tires of the steering-wheels occasionedby the crowding or side straining of the latter as the steering-wheelsare adjusted is reduced to a minimum.

I claim as my invention 1. In a vehicle steering mechanism, thecombination with a frame and an axle mounted thereon, of the shortstud-axles connected to the axle outside of the hubs of the latter andarranged to turn on centers within the wheels, the arms on thestud-axles, a steering-post and connections between the latter and thearms, whereby the stud-axles may be operated simultaneously.

2. In a running-gear for vehicles, the combination with the reach-framehaving the rear axle secured thereto, and the brackets connecting themembers of the frame, of the forward axle having the central cross-bar,the truss-rods extending from the cross-bar to the ends of the axles,and pivotal connections between the ends of the cross-bar and thebrackets.

3. In a vehicle steering device, the combination with an axle secured tothe vehicleframe and having upon its opposite extremities bearingmembers, of short stud-axles supported in the wheels and provided withcooperating members engaging the former members for entirely supportingthe wheels exterior of the hubs and adapted when operated thereon tocause the steering-wheels to be turned upon their vertical axes uponvertical centers falling Within the hubs of the wheel.

4. In a vehicle steering device, the combination with an axle securedtothe vehicleframe, having arranged upon each of its opposite extremitiesone member of a segmental bearing struck from a center Within theWheelhubs, of short stud-axles supported entirely in and by the wheelsand provided upon their inner ends with a cooperating bearing memberadapted to engage within the former member, and means for causing thesimultaneous adjusting of the wheels.

5. In a vehicle steering device, the combination with an axle secured tothe vehicleframe provided upon each of its extremities with a stationarysegmental or arc-shaped bearing member, of short stud-axles having upontheir inner ends cooperating bearing members adjustable upon the former,wheels on the stud-axles, and connections between the stud-axles forcausing their simultaneous operation in the same direction, both saidsegmental members being formed on curves having the center of the wheelsas centers.

6. In a vehicle steering device, the combination with an axle secured tothe vehicleframe provided upon each of its extremities with a stationarysegmental bearing member, of stud-axles having upon their inner endscooperating segmental bearing members movable upon the other members,and arms extending from the stud-axles, and a steeringpost arrangedintermediate the arms, and connections between the latter and the post.

7. In a steering mechanism for vehicles, the combination with the framehaving an axle mounted thereon provided upon its extremities withsegmental heads, of the wheels, the stud-axles on which they aremounted, each having a segmental channel-box adapted to slide on thehead, said channel-boxes and heads being formed on curves of which thecenters of the wheels are the centers.

8. In a steering mechanism, the combination with the frame, the axle,and the wheels, the stud-axles mounted upon the ends of the main axleentirely exteriorly of the wheelhubs, of the bearing arrangedintermediate the main and stud axles, consisting of the segmentalchannel-box secured to one of the parts, having the opening upon itsouter face and the head secured upon the other part provided withrollers and adapted to be operated in the said channel-box.

9. In a running-gear for vehicles, the combination of the rear wheels,the rear axle supported thereon, and the frame connected thereto, of theforward axle pivoted to the frame to permit a vertical movement of itsends, and the forward wheels provided with the stud-axles connected tothe extremities of the forward axle exteriorly of the wheel-hubs,

but turning on substantially vertical axes within the wheel-hubs.

10. In a running-gear for vehicles, the combination of the rear'wheels,the rear axle sup ported therein and the frame connected thereto, of theforward axle pivoted to the frame to permit a vertical movement of itsends, and the forward wheels provided with the stud-axles pivotallyconnected to the axle, entirely exteriorly of the wheel-hubs and adaptedto turn on centers within the wheel-hubs, said stud-axles having thearms, the steeringpost arranged between the arms, and connectionsarranged between the latter and the steering-post to cause thesimultaneous operation of the wheels in the same direction.

11. In running-gear for vehicles, the combination with a support havingsegmental guides thereon, of the wheels and the studaxles on which thewheels are mounted, having portions movable on said segmental guides,said guides being formed on curves having their centers in a planeextending through the centers of the Wheels, and near the point wherethey contact with the ground, the connections between the support andstudaxles being entirely exteriorly of the wheelhubs.

12. In a running-gear for vehicles, the combination with a supporthaving the segmental guides thereon, of the wheels, the studaxles onwhich they are mounted operating on the guides, said guides being formedon curves having their centers in a plane extending through the centersof the wheels, and near the point where they contact with the ground,and means for turning said studaxles simultaneously, the connectionsbetween the support and stud-axles being entirely exteriorly of thewheel-hubs.

13. In a running-gear for vehicles, the combination with thereach-frame, the trussed axle pivoted thereto to permit its ends to movein a vertical plane only, and the segmental guides on the ends of saidaxle, of the stud-axles movable 011 the segmental guides inapproximately a horizontal plane, and the wheels thereon, said segmentalguides being formed on regular curves having their centers in a planepassing through the centers of the wheels and near the point of contactwith the ground.

14. The combination with a support, of the wheels and connectionsbetween the wheels and supports for entirely supporting the wheelslocated exteriorly of the wheel-hubs for guiding the wheels to turn insubstantially horizontal planes on circles struck from centers withinthe wheel-hubs.

15. The combination with a support, of the wheels, the stud-axles onwhich the wheels ters within the Wheel-hubs and antifriction devicesinterposed in said connections.

17. The combination of the main axle, the Wheels, the stud-axles onwhich the Wheels are mounted, and segmental guides between the stud andmain axles located exteriorly of the wheel-hubs, said guides being oncurves 2o concentric with the centers of the hub.

ROBERT W. JAMIESON. \Vitnesses:

F. F. CHURCH, G. A. RODA.

